מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד ה' שְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתִי הַאֲזִינָה אֶל תַּחֲנוּנָי בֶּאֱמֻנָתְךָ עֲנֵנִי בְּצִדְקָתֶךָ

A psalm by David. Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my pleas. In Your faithfulness, in Your righteousness, answer me. David’s plea for help and protection is grounded on God’s mercy. Despite his admitted imperfections, David emphasizes that he has always striven to be close to God and to serve Him. Thus, he entreats God to heed his prayer out of His mercy and righteousness.

וְאַל תָּבוֹא בְמִשְׁפָּט אֶת עַבְדֶּךָ כִּי לֹא יִצְדַּק לְפָנֶיךָ כָל חָי

Do not put Your servant to judgment. I am not requesting justice but rather mercy. And it is not only for myself that I say this, for no living thing can be justified before You. Were I to be judged, I would certainly be found guilty.

כִּי רָדַף אוֹיֵב נַפְשִׁי דִּכָּא לָאָרֶץ חַיָּתִי הוֹשִׁיבַנִי בְמַחֲשַׁכִּים כְּמֵתֵי עוֹלָם

In the meantime, however, I am suffering. Indeed, the enemy has pursued me and crushed my life to the ground; my foes are crushing the life out of me. They made me dwell in dark places, like those forever dead.

וַתִּתְעַטֵּף עָלַי רוּחִי בְּתוֹכִי יִשְׁתּוֹמֵם לִבִּי

My spirit grows faint (see 77:4). My heart is stunned within me.

זָכַרְתִּי יָמִים מִקֶּדֶם הָגִיתִי בְכָל פָּעֳלֶךָ בְּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶיךָ אֲשׂוֹחֵחַ

I remember days of old when I was at ease, when I meditated on all Your doings and spoke of the work of Your hands.

פֵּרַשְׂתִּי יָדַי אֵלֶיךָ נַפְשִׁי כְּאֶרֶץ עֲיֵפָה לְךָ סֶלָה

I stretch out my hands to You in prayer; my soul reaches out, like a parched land, to You, Selah. I turn to you as desperately as parched earth needs rain.

מַהֵר עֲנֵנִי ה' כָּלְתָה רוּחִי אַל תַּסְתֵּר פָּנֶיךָ מִמֶּנִּי וְנִמְשַׁלְתִּי עִם יֹרְדֵי בוֹר

Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. I feel as though I am suffocating. Do not hide Your face from me, lest I be like those who descend to the pit. If You do not turn to me, I will be like someone who is already dead.

הַשְׁמִיעֵנִי בַבֹּקֶר חַסְדֶּךָ כִּי בְךָ בָטָחְתִּי הוֹדִיעֵנִי דֶּרֶךְ זוּ אֵלֵךְ כִּי אֵלֶיךָ נָשָׂאתִי נַפְשִׁי

Let me hear Your kindness in the morning, for in You I have trusted. I have always been bound and connected to You, and You are my main support. Show me the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You now, as I have always done in the past.

הַצִּילֵנִי מֵאֹיְבַי ה' אֵלֶיךָ כִסִּתִי

Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for in You I take cover. You are my shelter and my protective armor.

לַמְּדֵנִי לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנֶךָ כִּי אַתָּה אֱלוֹהָי רוּחֲךָ טוֹבָה תַּנְחֵנִי בְּאֶרֶץ מִישׁוֹר

Teach me to do Your will, as perhaps I err inadvertently in my ways, for You are my God. Your spirit is good; You can lead me on the correct path. Lead me to a level land. Mountain paths are tortuous and dangerous, whereas on a level path one can move more freely and see both far and near.

לְמַעַן שִׁמְךָ ה' תְּחַיֵּנִי בְּצִדְקָתְךָ תּוֹצִיא מִצָּרָה נַפְשִׁי

For the sake of Your name, Lord, save my life. In Your righteousness, free me from distress.

וּבְחַסְדְּךָ תַּצְמִית אֹיְבָי וְהַאֲבַדְתָּ כָּל צֹרְרֵי נַפְשִׁי כִּי אֲנִי עַבְדֶּךָ

And in Your kindness toward me, destroy my enemies; lay waste to all my foes, for I am Your servant, and as one under Your protection, I ask for Your help.